Luger conversion



Feb. 2, 1954 M. J. HUNTING ETAL LUGER CONVERSION Filed Oct. 10, 1950INVENToRs Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNTELDE ST Td FTNT LUGER CONVERSIONPlainfield, N. J.

Application. October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,452

(Cl. 4t2-77) d Claims.

The present invention relates. generally, to side arms and moreparticularly to means and mechanism by the aid of which the standardLugar pistol may be converted to fire the more popular .22 caliber shortor long-riile cartridge, a primary,7 aim being to retain substantiallyall of the desirable characteristics of the renowned Luger pistol in theadaptation thereof to the .22 long or short cartridge commonly used inthis country.

A further aim of the invention is to render available an interchangeableLuger conversion assembly, which utilizes a minimum number of new partsdesigned and adapted to cooperate effectively with basic and unchangedelements of the Luger pistol. takes to render available a Lugerconversion in which the sights do not move and which embodies astraight-line blow-back instituted by the nre-power of either the .22short or .22 long-rie cartridge.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a way to convertthe conventional Luger pistol in a manner avoiding the use of loosepins, that may be accidently dropped or lost, and in a way that involvesmerely an interchange of parts so that an assembled gun may be used tofire the Luger 9 mm. semi-rimmed cartridge or reassembled to nre theconventional .22 cartridge.

Still another objective of the invention is to construct a Lugerconversion for the .22 rimmed cartridge in a manner whereby thecharacteristic toggle action of the Lugerand the consequent interferencewith the sighting of the gun is eliminated. As a further refinement, theinvention undertakes to render available a Luger conversion wherein thebolt return mechanism, firing pin mechanism and guides remain coveredand fully enclosed during the normal use and handling of the gun.

further of the invention is to ,provide a conversion unit combinationhaving the foregoing attributes in combination with means operable toeject the spent or empty .22 rimmed case after each shot and to reloadand condition the parts for successive ring automatically-andeffectively whereby also to retain the automatic features of the Lugerpistol as Well as its balance, accuracy, and general appearance.

in carrying out the aims of the invention it is proposed partially todisassemble the Luger pistol by removing the cartridge magazine case,and also the bolt action and iiring pin as a unit. into the basicelements rem ining a barrel liner is inserted, and a bolt action andining pin assembly constructed in accordance with this invention. A

The invention further under.-

2 single lock pin is inserted to retain all the parts in assembledrelation. Thereafter a new magazine externally of the size and shape oithe `Luger magazine but internally constructed to Carry a quantity of,22 cartridges, is next inserted and the gun is ready for use.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the Same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as parts of this disclosure and., in suchdrawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all the vieWS.. of which: v

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of a Luger conversion modelembodying this invenF tion.

Figure 2 is a view of parts of the conversion unit illustrated partly insection.

Figure 3 is a plan view Of a portion of the conversion unit with thebolt mechanism in its blown back position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the conversion units rear sight, detachedfrom its normal environment.

Figure 5 is a rear view of Figure 4 with the connecting pin reassembled.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Figure2.

In the accompanying drawing, the numeral lll indicates the conventionalLuger stock which encloses a removable cartridge magazine i I adapted tobe released from the handle by pressing the release button l2. The stockcarries the Luger trigger i3 and its guard,v and is also fashioned toreceive between its upper extending sides, the bolt receiver and barrelelements lll and I5 retlpec tively. Normally the barrel and receiverassembly is locked in operative relation with the stock le by means ofthe extension lock lever I6. This lever i6 also locks the removabletrigger plate l l in place. The trigger plate l1 carries portions of thetrigger sear actuating mechanism indicated in dotted lines l in Figuresl and 3. Lever l5 is the safety catch lever of the gun. The abovementioned parte are the original Inger parts and their relations andcoacting features are retained in the present conversion unit withoutmodiication.

The conversion elements of the present levenltion include, essentially,a barrel insert a adapted to be fitted within the 9 mm. bore of theLuger barrel, and an improved bolt and rear sight element 2 I. Thebarrel insert is fashioned with a headed portion 2|a at the breech endthereof within which an enlarged bore 2lby is formed. The enlarged bore2lb extends forward a distance approximately equal to the length of thecase of a .22 caliber short cartridge, and contains therein a sleevemember 23. The sleeve 23 is constructed for endwise movement within theenlarged bore of the barrel insert, and the extremes of its movement arelimited by a pin 24 that coacts with a closed ended slot 25 in theexterior surface of the sleeve member. The external diameter of thesleeve member 23 is such that when a .22 short is fired in the gun, theexpanding gases react not only upon the case but against the innerannular end wall of the movable sleeve. The explosive power against thecase augmented by the power against the sleeve has been predetermined tobe adequate to repel the breech block, eject the spent case, reload andcondition the gun for the next shot. However, the sleeve member 23 isinactive when a .22 long cartridge is in the barrel for the reason thatthe case of the .22 long extends well past the inner end of the insertedsleeve and seals off the chamber. It will be seen that a Lugerconversion constructed in accordance with the invention embodies afloating chamber principle effective when using .22 shorts, and which isautomatically ineiective when using .22 longs.

The conversion unit also includes a reciprocable breech block or bolt 20having ribs 201' and groove 20s along its sides adapted to interiitguides my of the receiver l0, and a spaced but normally fixed rear sightpiece 2 I. The rear sight piece is fitted between the rear ears ma ofthe receiver and locked in position by the usual connecting pin 26. Theparts are constructed so that when the bolt is in its forward position,adequate recoil space is provided between its rear end and the forwardend of the rear sight piece, to allow the bolt to recede after the gunis fired to effect shell rejection, resetting of the firing pin andreloading. Normally the bolt is urged to its forward closed position bya compression spring 2l tensioned to hold the breech closed when the gunis fired but to yield when the expanding gases build up pressurerequired for shell ejecting and reloading.

The bolt piece 20 also is longitudinally bored offset from the axis ofthe barrel, to receive a rim-iiring firing pin 28. The firing pin isactuated by a spring 29 interposed between its rear end and the rearsight piece. A pilot bar 30 secured to the firing pin extends throughthe rear sight piece 2| when the gun is cocked and ready Vto fire, butwhich receded out of sight when the gun is fired. The projecting barthus serves to give visual indication that the gun is cocked and readyto re.

The firing pin is constructed to be latched in prelocked position uponthe rearward movement of the bolt by the conventional Luger sear 3i aswill be understood. The forward end of the conversion bolt, is recessedas at 32 to receive the base of a .22 case as it is forced upwardly fromthe magazine, but unlike the Luger bolt, the recess is open at itsbottom region so as not to interfere or impede upward movement of thesmall .22 cartridge. The necessity for an open bottom recess, asconcerns the .22 cartridge, perforce renders the top extractor of theLuger design impractical and useless. Accordingly We haveY so designedthe bolt piece of the conversion unit that the shell extractor 32a is onthe side, that is, approximately away from the position occupied in theLuger pistol. Thus in normal operation, the cartridge that is advancedfrom the magazine, slips properly into the recess in the bolt and isclamped by the extractor hook 32a against the face and one of the closedsides of the recess and thereby securely held as it is carried forwardand into the barrel chamber. It may be explained here that a Luger 9 mm.cartridge has a base equal in diameter to its medial region, whereas ina .22 cartridge the base is enlarged and flanged f relative to itsmedial region and the extractor prong tends to shift the cartridgelaterally. 33 indicates the ejector, which in accordance with thisinvention is formed by an upwardly projecting rear lip on the magazinecase.

The bolt piece 20 of the instant conversion unit is also formed with apair of rearwardly extending arms 20c spaced from one another. The arms20c project from the rear of the gun and preferably are united by a griphandle 35. The rear sight piece 2l is formed with a pair of guides 26afor the arms 20c and with a forwardly extending tongue member 2| c thatpartially overlays the arms of the bolt and covers the gap therebetween.With this form of construction the recoil space between the bolt and xedrear sight is continually covered and the mechanism therein completelyenclosed at all times. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the projecting arms ofthe bolt pass by flattened portions 26a of the pivot pin which preventsthe latter from turning and from possibly working out of place.l Afurther function of the extended guide arms is to supplement the guideson the main part of the bolt. The extending arms, particularly whenfurnished with the pull handle 35, serve also as convenient means forwithdrawing the bolt manually when the first cartridge of a new magazineis to be moved into ring position.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that a standard Luger pistol mayby the provision of a few new parts constructed as herein explained, beconverted from its large caliber to a small .22 caliber in but a fewmoments time with the result that the piston is rendered useful forpractice work, indoor target shooting, etc. at a minimum expense, andcapable of reconversion at will of the owner.

Operation A loaded clip or magazine is inserted in the loading slot inthe stock of the gun. The pull handle is pulled to the rear and therereleased whereupon the bolt removes a cartridge from the magazine andforces it into the chamber of the barrel. As the bolt is removing thecartridge from the magazine, etc. the ring pin comes in contact with therear of the original Luger sear, so that when the bolt is completelyclosed, the ring pin is in the cocked position. When the trigger ispulled the firing pin is released from the sear and allowed to re thecartridge. The expanding gases on the head of the cartridge case forcethe bolt to the rear. The fired cartridge case is gripped by theextractor and removed from the barrel. The ejector lip 33 is on theunderside of the .22 caliber bolt and comes in contact with the firedcase when the bolt has almost reached its most rearward position. Theejector forces the red case out of the opened action. When the gun hasr'ecoiled its full length, it compresses the buffer plunger 40 andYdisconnects the gun until a new cartridge is removed from the magazineand forced into the chamber oi the barrel. After the last cartridge inthe is ired, the follower of the magazine comes in Contact with the faceof the bolt and the bolt remains open until a freshly loaded clip isinserted.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specinc aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and areintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. A conversion unit for a Luger pistol having conventional barrel andreceiver members, comprising a barrel insert member adapted forinsertion in the bore of the pistol barrel member of the Luger forreducing the gauge thereof to the caliber shot to be used, arectilinearly movable bolt member having guide means compleinenting theconventional spaced bolt guides on the Luger receiver member forcoacticn therewith, said bolt member having a firing pin assembledtherein and also a cartridge case extractor so located as operatively toengage the side of an inserted cartridge shell rim, a normally fixedrear sight member carried by the receiver member of the Luger in spacedrelation from the said bolt member when the latter is in its normaloperative position whereby to provide space for bolt movement when thepistol is iired, recoil spring means in the space between the bolt andthe rear sight member, a cartridge magazine constructed and arranged toplace an unfired cartridge in position to be advanced into the bo-re ofthe barrel insert member on the forward movement of the bolt in responseto therecoil spring means, and means enclosing the recoil space betweenthe bolt and the rear sight member comprising a pair of rearwardlyextending spaced apart arm members carried by the movable bolt memberand overlying the recoil space and a forward extending tongue elementcarried by said rear sight member and also overlying the recoil space,said arm members and tongue member together with the sides of theconventional Luger receiver effectively closing the recoil space againstentry of foreign matter during normal use of the pistol.

2. The combination of claim l in which the said barrel insert member isbored to receive .22 caliber cartridges, said bore being enlarged at itsbreech end an axial distance substantially equalling the length of theshell case of a .22 short cartridge, a floating piston movable in theenlarged portion cf the sleeve bore for increasing the effect oi theblow-back energy of the expanding gases on the movable bolt member, saidpiston member being effectively sealed oi from operation as a poweramplifier when a .22 long cartridge is inserted in the sleeve bore.

3. The combination of claim l in which the rear sight member is providedwith arm guides along its sides and is retained in the receiver by across pin, said pin having flattened portions, and in which therearwardly extending arms of the bolt member are guided by the armguides formed in the rear sight member and overlay the nattened portionsof the cross pin whereby to lock the latter in place and to function assupplementary guide means for the bolt.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the rearwardly extending arms ofthe bolt extend beyond the rear sight member for manual actuation of thebolt on the initial shell loading cycle.

MELVIN J. HUNTING. GEORGE L. MACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,990,657 Williams Aug. 24, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 497,683 Germany May 12, 1930 565,370 Germany Nov. 29, 1932

